Nehemiah 12:27-43

Dedication of the Walls of Jerusalem. We should naturally expect this section to come after Nehemiah 6:15, where the completion of the walls is recorded; like so many others, this section has become misplaced from its original position. It is, in the main, taken from the memoirs of Nehemiah (see Nehemiah 12:31; Nehemiah 12:38; Nehemiah 12:40), though probably the compiler has left his marks upon it.

Nehemiah 12:27. they sought the Levites. : the Levites at this time were not living in Jerusalem, but in the country villages round (see Nem 12:28f.).

Nehemiah 12:28. the villages of the Netophathites: cf. 1 Chronicles 9:16; Ezra 2:22; Nehemiah 7:26.

Nehemiah 12:30. purified themselves: viz. by means of sacrifices and sprinkling with the blood of the sacrifices.

Nehemiah 12:33. This list contains some strange names not found elsewhere; in the main it is a list of Levites.

Nehemiah 12:40. The two processions, having made the circuit of the walls, took up their positions in the open space to the east of the Temple.